What's on the Big Screen

So film buffs, what has 2009 got to offer us? We’ll need something good to distract our minds from more financial meltdown, everyone being made redundant and general breakdown of society as we know it.

So let’s have a quick look at some of the biggies that promise to shock and awe throughout the year.

And what better place to start than Star Trek? This time it’s director J J Abrams to take control of the iconic space brand and boldly go where everyone has been before; a couple of times each. Pencilled in for May, this should be an enjoyable romp for all those Trekkies out there, and non-Trekkies as well. This time is a look-back at the early careers of the heroes we came to love out of the first TV series. Should be a good excuse for space daring-do in the old mould. Might be most memorable for English audiences who are looking forward to see uber-Trekkie Simon Pegg taking on the role of Scotty, before he and his mate Nick Frost rediscover Tintin.

Next up is Avatar, which has been ten years in the making so they  say and is meant to be the epic of all epics. It’s backed by the once epic James Cameron, who for some has lost his way since early massive successes. Maybe this one, which will be in 3D and on a kiss-ass size, will cement Cameron’s claim to Hollywood immortality. We’ll have to wait and see; actually, we’ll have to wait and see until Christmas 2009, and given the nature of epics, this might also be put back. By the way, it’s all about people (earthlings and Na’vi’s try to get it together on a different planet, Pandora) and as no-one can seem to survive in harmony on this planet, you might guess what will happen.

The next one has its feet firmly attached to plant earth and is called Public Enemies which is due out in the summer. Directed by the still-going-strong Michel Man, this is a good old fashioned stick-um-up movie, with lots of good guys with lots of neat looking suits from the 1930s. It’s all about one Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale, a favourite of FBI chief J Edgar Hoover and who played hardball with the likes of the fashionable mobsters such as Baby Face Nelson (although don’t call him that to his face), Pretty Boy Floyd and Alvin Creepy Karpis. Great names, great actors (including Johnny Depp) and sets; does it get any better than that?

And, oh yes, lets not forget the Harry Potter franchise. The latest fling for the boy-wizard comes out in the summer and as everyone knows it’s late, having been due on the screens at the start of the year. Called Harry Potter and the Half Prince, little needs to be said about this one apart from the fact that it is eagerly awaited, will be a massive success and sporn another load of Harry Potter merchandise. Oh dear.

So there we have it, a few films to whet your appetite for the coming year. Enjoy.

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